How life has changed in North Norfolk

North Norfolk's population increased by about 3,100 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of North Norfolk increased by 3.2%, from just under 98,400 to 101,000.

The addition of just over 3,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, North Norfolk was home to, on average, 0.75 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Eastof England's third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older North Norfolk

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of North Norfolk increased by three years, from 48 to 51 years.

This area had the highest average age in Eastof England and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 17.0% of people in North Norfolk are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Norfolk by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in North Norfolk that rented privately increased from 11.5% to 14.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in eight (12.8%) households lived in social housing, compared with 13.7% in 2001. The percentage of North Norfolk households that owned their home decreased from 71.2% to 70.1%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 14.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in North Norfolk increased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in North Norfolk, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

North Norfolk saw Eastof England's second-largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over 7 in 10 (71.1%) households in North Norfolk had no children, compared with 69.4% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 22.6% to 20.7%.

Across the region, only Maldon saw a greater rise in the proportion of households without children (from 59.9% to 62.2%).

During this period, North Norfolk overtook Cambridge to become the Eastof England local authority area with the highest percentage of households without children.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in North Norfolk

In 2011, 98.7% of North Norfolk residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 99.2% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 94.9% to 90.4%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 0.6% of people in North Norfolk said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.4% in 2001. About 0.5% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.2% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.1% to 0.2%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in North Norfolk remained close to 98.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Norfolk by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in North Norfolk

The percentage of North Norfolk residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.4% to 4.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.5%, while the percentage of North Norfolk residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.1% to 87.8%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in North Norfolk increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Norfolk, Eastof England and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in North Norfolk

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in North Norfolk, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.2 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 27.3% of respondents in North Norfolk said they had no religion, up from 15.1% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 71.4% of respondents in North Norfolk said they were Christian, down from 84.2% in 2001. About 0.6% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from 0.3% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in North Norfolk increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and North Norfolk by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of North Norfolk residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.5% to 6.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (76.7%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 63.9% in 2001. The percentage of North Norfolk residents that described their health as fair decreased from 26.6% to 17.2%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in North Norfolk decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Norfolk, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in North Norfolk that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.6% to 12.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (53.7%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 57.5% in 2001. The percentage of single people in North Norfolk increased from 21.4% to 24.3%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 10.4% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in North Norfolk working less than 16 hours increased from 2.2% to 3.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 15.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in North Norfolk increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in North Norfolk, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of North Norfolk residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.3% to 3.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in North Norfolk remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Norfolk by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in North Norfolk, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.5% to 7.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.7%) households had a married couple, compared with 36.3% in 2001. While the percentage of households in North Norfolk, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.5% to 9.2%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of North Norfolk residents that were studying increased from 1.5% to 1.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (44.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 45.7% in 2001. The percentage of North Norfolk residents that were unemployed increased from 2.6% to 3.3%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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